“Yeah, that was a big influence,” Pine View running back Jacob Mpungi said about the championship game loss. “We wanted to beat these guys bad and show them who we are. We weren’t going to let that happen again.”

The Panthers got big contributions from all three phases of the game. Pine View’s defense had an interception, forced multiple turnovers on downs and held a Thunder team that came into Thursday’s game averaging 40 points in region play to just 14. The Panthers’ special teams hopped on a muffed punt and forced a short squib punt -- both of which led to Pine View touchdowns. As for the offense, the running duo of Mpungi and quarterback Dallin Brown proved to be near unstoppable.

Brown rushed for 136 yards on 28 carries and 3 TDs. Mpungi ran for 80 yards and a pair of scores. And with the success of the running game, the Panthers only needed to attempt a total four passes.

“If everyone is going to focus on me, we are just going to let Brown to his (stuff),” Mpungi said. “I’m a big decoy.”

That was especially the case in the first half as Brown scored the first three Pine View touchdowns. He ran up the middle for a 3-yard TD in the first quarter to tie the game at 7. In the second quarter, he juked his way to a 28-yard TD and then finished off another Pine View drive with a short 3-yard score to put Pine View up 21-7.

After Jeshan Allen intercepted Desert Hills QB Noah Sewell, the Panthers found themselves on the doorstep of the end zone again. At that point, Mpungi was growing tired of being the decoy.

Brown obliged— or at least the Pine View coaches did — and Mpungi finished off the drive for the first of his two scores to give the Panthers a 28-7 lead at the half.

In the third, Desert Hills cut it to a two-score game with a Brock Parry TD, his second of the game, but Pine View ended any hope of an upset in the fourth.

Brown found Michael Moten on a quick out route and Moten did the rest, slipping a tackle and burning down the sideline for a 66-yard score to make it 35-14. Mpungi then finished off the Thunder with his second TD of the night.

“We just wanted to keep pounding them and pounding and pounding,” Mpungi said.

It was the type of victory that could put the rest of the region, and maybe even the state, on notice. It was a complete game from the Panthers. And one they think that can repeat.